What is a semi-automatic car

Wondering what is a semi-automatic and how it is different from other cars?

Cars tend to fall under the
category of topics people know a lot or nothing at all about. Many of us learn
to drive at the earliest age possible, but we gather our car knowledge on an
as-needed basis. As a result, thereís some basic confusion over what a semi-automatic
car is.

If youíre car hunting now or
planning to in the future, itís important to know what you get with
semi-automatics and why some drivers prefer them. Basically, a semi-automatic
car has an automatic transmission with a user interface that lets the driver
shift the gears when she wants to, or let the computer do the work. The fact that the transmission
allows the driver to choose when gears shift is the reason these cars arenít
fully automatic.

Inexperienced drivers will find it
easier to drive a semi-automatic car than a manual one. The major difference
between the two is that semi-automatics donít have a clutch pedal. With manual
cars, the driver has to coordinate stepping on the clutch pedal to change gears
while driving or stopping. When in automatic mode, the gears use electronic
sensors to execute gear shifts themselves.

Semi-automatic cars make the overall
driving experience easier so you can focus on where youíre going and on the other
cars around you. Semi-automatic driving is particularly useful for the stop-go
traffic patterns that many commuters face daily.

One of the culprits behind car confusion is the varying lingo used by manufacturers.

There are several different
types of semi-automatic gearboxes, but they all have the same function that
enables the driver to either let the computer automatically control gear
changes or to switch to manual mode. Porsche was the first brand to
introduce this technology in 1990. Today BMW, Audi, Chrysler, Honda and Nissan offer their own versions, though each has a different name
for it. A few examples include Porscheís tiptronic transmission and BMWís steptronic system.

While their technology sounds
confusing, thanks to a bunch of long words that all mean the same thing,
semi-automatic cars are easy to drive. The driver controls gear
shifts through a paddle on the steering wheel, by moving a knob beside the
stick shifter or with another basic mechanism within reach. Enthusiasts like that
semi-automatic cars offer the physical engagement of a manual car without the
hassle of always dealing with a clutch pedal.

If youíre looking to purchase a car and find yourself on the fence between
manual, automatic or a semi, you really should take each for a spin.